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House Unanimously Passes Walden Legislation to Enhance Water Management, Conservation, Agriculture Across Oregon
Jackson, Deschutes, Jefferson & Wallowa County Projects Benefit
September 26, 2006 - Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Congressman Greg Walden that would enhance dam safety, water delivery, agriculture usage and water conservation efforts throughout central, southern and eastern Oregon. The Oregon Water Resources Management Act of 2006 (H.R. 5079) is a package of four bills previously introduced in the Congress.
“This is great news for the local communities affected, and a big step forward for the responsible stewardship of our precious natural resources in central, southern and eastern Oregon,” Walden said. “Water issues are critical throughout Oregon. Whether in Wallowa County where it’s the water stored behind a dam in need of repair to protect residents, or in central Oregon where efforts continue for improving the quality and increasing the quantity of water in the Deschutes River for all uses, water plays a central role in our lifestyles and livelihoods. The Oregon Water Resources Management Act will help bring together the federal government and various local entities to improve cooperation when it comes to the management of water for both environmental and agricultural needs.”
“At the heart of this legislation is collaboration,” Walden said. “In each of the four projects H.R. 5079 was designed to support, we see cooperative efforts between various stakeholders and local and federal governments to solve a variety of problems. These projects work to preserve and restore habitats for fish and wildlife, while protecting the needs of farmers and their communities through water conservation, sale and leasing.”
“I worked closely with the local stakeholders involved and Senators Smith and Wyden to develop this cooperative legislation that addresses real Oregon problems, and with today’s passage in the House the bill is ready for consideration in the Senate,” Walden added.
As passed, H.R. 5079 combines four individual bills: the North Unit Irrigation District Act (H.R. 5079), the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act (S. 166), the Wallowa Lake Dam Rehabilitation Act (H.R. 5019) and the Little Butte/Bear Creak Subbasins Water Feasibility Act (S. 251). Information on each bill follows:
Central Oregon Region:
The Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization (DRC) Act would reauthorize what has been a very good success story of farmers, landowners, conservation groups and local governments working together to support projects for conserving, purchasing and leasing water, while restoring habitats for fish and wildlife. As a result, nearly 140 cubic feet per second have been added to the Deschutes River, with 50 habitat projects resulting in the restoration of 100 miles of stream, 13 acres of new wetlands, and the planting of almost 250,000 native riparian plants.
The DRC reauthorization allows for annual federal assistance toward their efforts through 2015. The DRC was originally authorized by Congress in 1996 to implement water conservation measures in the Deschutes River Basin. Since then, it has successfully fostered numerous projects that benefit all aspects of conservation along the Deschutes River. The bill has garnered support from the DRC, the local community and the Bureau of Reclamation.
The North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) Act would successfully balance the needs of farmers in Jefferson County, while preserving important waterways for fish and other wildlife.
The legislation would resolve several limitations in NUID’s contract with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), allowing for the dedication of water to in-stream uses which would make the district eligible to participate in state-funded conservation programs. Additionally, the bill would allow NUID to deliver Deschutes Project water—without increased diversion from the Deschutes Project—to families currently using Crooked River water to irrigate 9,000 acres of land in the district. This would reduce diversion of Crooked River water leaving more water in stream. The bill has garnered support from the District and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Southern Oregon Region:
The Little Butte/Bear Creek Subbasins Water Feasibility Act would help bring resolution to issues blocking an ongoing collaboration between irrigators and the federal government to meet local water needs without drawing more water from the subbasins. If this legislation were to fail, it would further delay efforts to move forward with this project by blocking the Bureau of Reclamation’s needed instructions from the Congress.
The bill would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a much-needed water management feasibility study at the Little Butte and Bear Creak watersheds as outlined in the agency’s Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Medford for the Water for Irrigation, Streams and the Economy (WISE) project. The act reauthorizes $500,000 in federal assistance for this cooperative effort and requires 50-50 cost share match between federal and local dollars. The bill has garnered support from the city of Medford, local irrigators and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Northeastern Oregon Region:
The Wallowa Lake Dam Rehabilitation Act would help protect the people living in the dam’s basin by rebuilding the aging dam, which has been identified as a high-hazard structure by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The bill would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide grants or enter into cooperative agreements with tribes, the state, local governments and the Associated Ditch Companies to plan, design and repair Wallowa Lake Dam and preserve the valuable water recreation site behind the dam. The bill would authorize $6 million in federal assistance for this project and requires a 50-50 cost share match between federal and local dollars. The bill has the support of Wallowa County and the Associated Ditch Companies.
Congressman Walden is in his fourth term representing the people of Oregon’s Second District, which includes twenty counties in central, southern and eastern Oregon.
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